On a typical year, thousands make the pilgrimage to the monument, an annual draw for Armenians who visit the site on April 24 to mark the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, and to honor its victims and survivors.

An estimated 1.5 million Armenians were systematically murdered in 1915 by the Ottoman Turkish government. The Montebello monument was built as a permanent gathering place, soon after thousands walked the streets of Los Angeles on the fiftieth anniversary of the genocide.

The new signs sit prominently on the shoulders of the westbound 60 Freeway, right before the Garfield/Wilcox exits. They will serve to bring greater awareness about the Armenian Genocide, says Calderon, who authored the bill in 2010 that made the signs possible.

“It serves as a beacon of awareness for all Californians, in hopes that those who see the signage will remember this dark chapter in world history and in doing so, commit to fighting such crimes against humanity.”

More information about the history on the monument and sign can be found at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument’s Facebook[1] page.

The signs were installed in late March, and unveiled on April 1, in time for the annual Armenian Genocide day of remembrance held each year on April 24.